KTVT AND KTXA: BACK TO PRE-TRANSITION CHANNELS

[eskipper411]

Look on 21.2 they are running a scroll but not on 11.

 

[JHBrandt]

Well, looks like 21.2 is gone, 21.1 is back on 18, and we now have two 11.1's! One on 11 and one on 19. Anyone know how long the VHF 11 will last?

My Apex converter box can't handle two 11.1s and got confused. It marked the new 11.1 with its "real" channel number, 19.1. FWIW, the Magnavox converter box and the Samsung HDTV receiver did what they were supposed to do and created two 11.1s. Still have two boxes that I haven't rescanned yet; I'll keep you posted.

 

[Megapsycle]

My two Zenith boxes have TWO 11.1s in the channel lineup. Weird. My Sony TV shows 19.1 for the 11 on RF-19. I bet they are having fun chatting with the folks on the tech help lines. They need to turn off RF-11 so these darned digital tuners can sort things out.

 

[JHBrandt]

OK, finished rescanning. The Channel Master converter box worked, but only found one 11.1. It doesn't show the RF channel anywhere, so I can only hope it kept 19. If not, I'll be rescanning it again when they shut off RF 11.

The Dish Network converter box can't handle two 11.1s either. I can add either RF 11 or RF 19 but not both. Worse, whichever one I pick displays as channel 70.1 : It seems to know it's really 11.1, though; when surfing it comes up between 8.3 and 13.1. This is true whether I add RF 11 or RF 19, so it is going by the virtual channel, not the RF channel.

 

[eskipper411]

After re-scanning at 1:30, VHF 11 is on air once again.

 

[Megapsycle]

The Dish Network converter box can't handle two 11.1s either. I can add either RF 11 or RF 19 but not both. Worse, whichever one I pick displays as channel 70.1

My Dish DTVPal DVR does that too. If I just rescan, it will add new or changed channels above 70. Only way I can correct it is do a full factory reset let it start over from scratch, which means I have to re-enter in my zip code for the TV Guide, and set the function preferences how I had them. Then if something changes or updates overnight, it will put those channels above 70 again. Only way to stop it from updating overnight it to leave the power ON all the time. It won't go looking for updates while it's powered on.

 

[LibertyNT]

i used to be not able to get WFAA 8 when they were on 9. but when they moved back to 8 i can get them with the indoor antenna just fine. I couldn't get 11 but i could get 21.2. Now I can get 11 and 21 just fine. But 33 is the only one i have problems with.

 

[JHBrandt]

The Dish Network converter box can't handle two 11.1s either. I can add either RF 11 or RF 19 but not both. Worse, no matter which one I pick, it displays as channel 70.1

My Dish DTVPal DVR does that too. If I just rescan, it will add new or changed channels above 70. Only way I can correct it is do a full factory reset let it start over from scratch, which means I have to re-enter in my zip code for the TV Guide, and set the function preferences how I had them. Then if something changes or updates overnight, it will put those channels above 70 again. Only way to stop it from updating overnight it to leave the power ON all the time. It won't go looking for updates while it's powered on.

Thanks for the info. Once KTVT shuts down RF 11 I'll try that.

 

[Megapsycle]

Anyone know for sure if KTVT-DT RF 19 and KERA-DT RF 14 share the same tower at Cedar Hill? I see some references that say they do. I receive KERA weak compared to KTVT. Trying to figure out why.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Anyone know for sure if KTVT-DT RF 19 and KERA-DT RF 14 share the same tower at Cedar Hill? I see some references that say they do. I receive KERA weak compared to KTVT. Trying to figure out why.

Yes, they do. The antenna structure registration number for both KERA and KTVT is 1047708, which is located on the east side of Highway 67.

The ERP for KTVT on RF-19 is 750 kW whereas KERA on RF-14 is 475 kW, a 1.98 dB difference. What would be helpful is to know your location and to quantify the difference in reception between RF-19 and RF-14.

For example, in Frisco on a DigitalStream DTX-9950, KTVT's RF-19 signal measures 97 and KERA's RF-19 reads 70 on a 0-100 scale. For what it's worth, KLDT on RF-39 with only 126 kW reads 89 and KTAQ on RF-46 with 600 kW shows 92 using the identical equipment. The antenna is a 25-element GE-branded VHF/UHF located in an attic.

Additional data from different locations in the market will be of benefit.

 

[JHBrandt]

Anyone know for sure if KTVT-DT RF 19 and KERA-DT RF 14 share the same tower at Cedar Hill? I see some references that say they do. I receive KERA weak compared to KTVT. Trying to figure out why.

Same tower and antenna height. KTVT is stronger but only by a couple dB. I can think of two possible explanations:
1. Your antenna (or something between your antenna and TV) has a sharp rolloff below channel 19.
2. Your antenna is in a "cold spot" for KERA's signal.

If it's #2 and you can move your antenna, that's a relatively easy fix. Of course a better spot for KERA may be worse for some other station; you'll just have to try various places and see if you can find a place for your antenna that works for all the stations you want.

 

[Megapsycle]

Same tower and antenna height. KTVT is stronger but only by a couple dB. I can think of two possible explanations:

1. Your antenna (or something between your antenna and TV) has a sharp rolloff below channel 19.
2. Your antenna is in a "cold spot" for KERA's signal.

If it's #2 and you can move your antenna, that's a relatively easy fix.

I actually have 3 TV antennas, two on the roof at opposite ends of the house probably 50 ft apart, and one out in the attic of the detached garage about 70 ft behind the house. None of the 3 receive KERA with anywhere near the same sig as 11 on UHF 19, typically about 10 to 15 counts down on the TV's sig strength meter. Lately KERA sig has been constantly bouncing up and down from 27-30 to 71-76 and back, every couple of seconds. Every other station is fairly solid.

 

[JHBrandt]

I actually have 3 TV antennas, two on the roof at opposite ends of the house probably 50 ft apart, and one out in the attic of the detached garage about 70 ft behind the house. None of the 3 receive KERA with anywhere near the same sig as 11 on UHF 19, typically about 10 to 15 counts down on the TV's sig strength meter. Lately KERA sig has been constantly bouncing up and down from 27-30 to 71-76 and back, every couple of seconds. Every other station is fairly solid.

I'm stumped. A bouncing signal is often multipath but rooftop antennas are usually pretty directional - and besides, you'd think any multipath would affect both stations.

Could it be interference from below 470 MHz? The GMRS repeater input band is at 467+ MHz; could there be someone with a GMRS radio in your neighborhood? (A malfunctioning GMRS walkie-talkie once blew Fox off the air at my house when it started oscillating at a wildly incorrect frequency.)

 

[JHBrandt]

KTXA's final paperwork is in, they want channel 29 when all is said and done.

- Trip

According to the FCC's TV query, KTXA and KTVT have formally applied for 1000 kW construction permits on channels 29 and 19, respectively. This will extend KTXA's signal east to Greenville, west to Mineral Wells, and south to Mexia and even part of Waco.

That confirms KNAV's move to digital on 29 is out (I always suspected as much, but couldn't be sure until the application was filed). It looks like it also displaces KHFW's construction permit on 29, although I don't think KHFW ever did anything with that CP.

OTOH, this will clear the way for KPFW to move to 18. KPFW's original application to move to 33 is gone, so that also clears the way for K31GL to move to 33, presumably with new call letters - and, unfortunately, a much lower antenna which may not get their signal out to my suburban home any longer. Oh well, without TheCoolTV, it's no big loss anymore.